title: Cytokine production in whole blood cell cultures of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The measurement of cytokine production of activated lymphocytes and monocytes in the whole blood cell (WBC) culture system may provide a sensitive tool for evaluating the actual ongoing immune response of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) up to 250 pg/ml was used for the stimulation of monocytes for measuring the production of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), interleukin 6 (IL6) and IL12, while the anti-CD3 (1 microgram/ml) and anti-CD28 (5 micrograms/ml) combination was used for T cell stimulation with the measuring of IL4 and interferon gamma (INF gamma) production. Twenty seven patients with RA and 23 healthy controls were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed a decreased IL6 (LPS stimulus 4-6 pg/ml) and IL-12 (LPS stimulus 16-62 pg/ml) production in the RA patients. The maximal production of both cytokines was comparable with the normal controls. T cell stimulation showed a significant decreased INF gamma production in the RA patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings obtained in the WBC culture system are highly suggestive for a decreased TH-1 derived cytokine production by a diminished IL12 production in RA patients. Another possibility is that both IL12 and INF gamma production in WBCs are inhibited by eventual circulating serum factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Zuider Ziekenhuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Swaak
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: van den Brink
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Aarden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D017252:CD3 Complex; D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma